Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Tottenham Hotspur could line up for Boxing Day’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n
Tottenham Hotspur<\/strong><\/a> midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur<\/strong><\/a> can make his long-awaited domestic return when Spurs square off with Nottingham Forest<\/strong><\/a> in Thursday’s Premier League Boxing Day encounter.<\/p>\n The Uruguayan has completed a seven-game ban<\/strong><\/a> for making an offensive comment about Son Heung-min<\/strong><\/a> and South Koreans, but he has been earning minutes in the Europa League amid his FA suspension.<\/p>\n As a result, Bentancur should not be lacking match fitness and may come straight back into contention for a starting place at the City Ground, where Spurs will be without seven players once more.<\/p>\n Guglielmo Vicario<\/strong><\/a> (ankle), Cristian Romero<\/strong><\/a> (thigh), Micky van de Ven<\/strong><\/a> (hamstring), Mikey Moore<\/strong><\/a> (illness), Wilson Odobert<\/strong><\/a> (hamstring), Richarlison<\/strong><\/a> (thigh) and Ben Davies<\/strong><\/a> (thigh) are still absent, but Ange Postecoglou<\/strong><\/a> has confirmed that Destiny Udogie<\/strong><\/a> is raring to go again.<\/p>\n The Italy international was an unused substitute in Sunday’s 6-3 loss to Liverpool<\/strong><\/a> following a recent knock but should now return to his familiar left-back role, potentially forcing Djed Spence<\/strong><\/a> down to the bench if Pedro Porro<\/strong><\/a> is retained.<\/p>\n A lack of central alternatives means that Archie Gray<\/strong><\/a> and Radu Dragusin<\/strong><\/a> will shield Fraser Forster<\/strong><\/a> once more, and Postecoglou should not be averse to partnering Bentancur with Lucas Bergvall<\/strong><\/a>, as Pape Sarr<\/strong><\/a> and Yves Bissouma<\/strong><\/a> make way.<\/p>\n However, the attacking quartet of Dejan Kulusevski<\/strong><\/a>, Dominic Solanke<\/strong><\/a>, James Maddison<\/strong><\/a> and Son Heung-min should remain untouched; the latter has six direct goal contributions on Boxing Day, the joint-most in Premier League history alongside Raheem Sterling<\/strong><\/a> and Mohamed Salah<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:<\/strong> > Click here to see how Forest could line up for this clash<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke<\/p>\n